Here is yet another rebadged oppo player that is selling for far more then what oppo charges for it. Ayre admits to changing nothing in the digital, HDMI, and video processing department so it is nothing more then a "snake oil" mod. With the new OPPO BDP-83 SE this ayre player is using the old DAC's and not the new ESS DAC's so you are paying $10,000 for less.

Then again one just has to look at ayre's past source units to realize it is all snake oil.

Oppo is a great company! I emailed them about their product and heard from them in the same day! Their stuff is amazing, well designed, and doesn't cost a retarded amount! I support OPPO as a customer and fellow business owner!

Even if one thought that the ayre had better 2ch analog why not just use the new oppo SE version that uses 4x 32bit DAC's for 2ch output, you won't find anything close to that in a ayre product.

Why do people insist on calling something that uses a transport from another manufacturer (or whatever the core part may be) a rebadge, and "snake oil"? Because frankly you don't know what you're talking about and it just makes you look like another Yugo-driving, Timex-wearing, Mobile home-living simpleton ignoramus. Yup, all Ayre changed was the complete analog audio section (an area in which they have a wee bit of expertise), a massively upgraded power supply (which affects everything), a better layout of the internal components (again, benefits everything), and throws in a USB DAC that tops their own QB-9 in performance (the QB-9 by the way was just named Stereophile Component of the Year). Is $10,000 a lot of money? Of course it is. But just because you can't afford it doesn't mean it doesn't have value to someone seeking the best. And Ayre is quick to point out how phenomenal the Oppo is, particularly for the price they offer it at. So no, I'm not bashing the Oppo. It is a fantastic player. But just as an AMG-modded Mercedes bests a stock unit, so too does the Ayre DX-5 top the Oppo. Talking about the dollars is a value judgment which is a personal matter and I don't care, nor does anyone else, if you don't see the value in it.